Naden faces two murder charges

MALCOLM NADEN, once the state's most wanted fugitive, will stand trial on two murder charges next year, almost eight years after he allegedly killed his cousin and the partner of another cousin.

The former abattoir worker, who was on the run from police for seven years until his capture in remote NSW this year, waived on Tuesday morning his right to a committal hearing in Central Local Court.

He will stand trial in February for the alleged strangulation of Kristy Scholes and murder of his cousin, Lateesha Nolan, who disappeared in 2005.

Mr Naden appeared in court via audio-visual link from Long Bay jail wearing an orange prison uniform, with a freshly shaved head and short beard.

When the magistrate Julie Huber asked if he could hear the proceedings he replied: ''Yes, fine thank you.''

She granted the application by his legal representative, Richard Wilson, to waive the right to a committal hearing on several charges.

Mr Naden is charged with strangling Ms Scholes in a bedroom of his grandparents' home in Dubbo in June, 2005, and the suspected murder of Ms Nolan, who has not been found since she was reported missing from Dubbo in January, 2005.

He is also charged with the attempted murder of a policeman who tried to capture him from a bush camp.

Mr Wilson indicated his client wished to go straight to trial next month on several break and enter, stealing and assault charges - all related to his time on the run.